Hopkins helps Nederland defeat Angleton in Bulldogs' home opener

By Ronnie Hughes

Updated 2:46 am, Saturday, September 14, 2013

You can't have thunder without lightning, and the fans brought the thunder while Kendrick Hopkins brought the lightning, rushing for 181 yards as Nederland defeated Angleton, 35-21, in the Bulldogs first home game of the season.

Angleton came out and struck gold on their second play when K' Vonte Jackson went untouched for 55 yards for the score. It appeared Jackson would cause the Bulldog defense trouble, but they managed to shut him down, allowing him only another 12 yards in the first half.

Big plays were the Wildcats theme through the first quarter as quarterback Thomas Josey hit Jashon Waddy for a 65-yard score. The speed and swiftness seemed to sputter out as the Bulldogs defense pitched a shutout in the second quarter.

The Nederland Bulldogs, look like they took a page from the Oregon Ducks playbook. They were running and gunning on the Wildcats and it showed as Angleton looked gassed as they gave up run after run to Hopkins.

Preston White also got involved and hooked up with Colton Kilmer who had 4 catches for 90 first half yards – including a 22 yard first quarter beauty in the corner of the end zone. The Bulldogs led at the half 21-14.

The Wildcats had no answer after the half as White began to heat up hitting 6-foot-3, 285-pound tight end De Shawn Jackson for a four-yard TD pass to get things rolling early in the third. T

he Bulldogs relentlessly kept attacking through the air and White kept improving as he finished the night 8-14 for 149 yards and 2 passing touchdowns. He also dove in a 1 yard keeper to essentially seal the deal late in the fourth.

The Bulldogs finished the night with 406 yards of total offense.

Angleton's K'Vonte Jackson rushed for 113 yards but that was not enough to hold off the smothering Bulldogs defense anchored by Sage Seay who had two sacks and two fumble recoveries, one that he returned 51 yards.

The Bulldogs rolled up four sacks on the night and you could hear the crowd chanting "pain train" all night long.

Nederland will get the week off next week as they will prepare for district play. The Bulldogs will host the Vidor Pirates on September 27 and will look to remain unbeaten at home.